Sunday, September 27, 2009

I've never ever been a part of a book club before so when I found out that a bunch of women in my church ward were in one I decided to join on up! We met for the first time last Tuesday and it was so fun. We talked about the books that we all love and what ones we want to do til January.

We're actually doing two for October: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and The Help by Kathryn Stockett. I just started The Book Thief and is beautiful so far. The language is just beautiful. He has an amazing ability to bring life to his words. And Death narrates the story, which is just, can I say it? 'Totally Wicked!' And I've heard great things about The Help so that what is on its way to my house.

November: These Is My Words by Nancy E. Turner. I've been wanting to read this for awhile now so I am very excited!

December: We thought we would slow it down for the Christmas month so we're reading a short story called The Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman. I hear it's a very inspirational story and just perfect for the holiday season!

January: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. I haven't heard a lot about this one, but everyone in my book club has been pretty excited to read it so hopefully it is!

Explores Austen's adage that general incivility is at love's essence. Sylvia's husband dumps her for another woman, so Bernadette and Jocelyn organize a book club to distract her. They recruit Sylvia's daughter Allegra; Prudie, a young teacher whose marriage may be on the rocks; and Grigg, a sci-fi fan who joins out of attraction to Jocelyn. The six read and discuss one Austen novel per month. Jocelyn tries to interest Grigg in Sylvia; Allegra falls in love with a woman she meets skydiving; Prudie contemplates an affair with a student; Sylvia's ex keeps popping up. In the discussions, characters reveal themselves in their comments. By the end, are truths universally acknowledged?

My review: I first watched this movie when it first came out and was undecided. It wasn't my favorite. But I decided to watch it again after hearing some glowing reviews from my fellow Austen Challengers. I'm really glad I did! I really enjoyed seeing how six completely different people could find a way to relate to all of Austen's books. I loved seeing their different perspectives on life and how they applied Austen into their own mini universes. I don't know if I completely agree with how Daniel and Sylvia turn out, but I still found all six characters interesting and romantic! I just love Kathy Baker, Amy Brenneman, and Hugh Dancy. So please check this one out if you love Austen and love a good romance!

Interesting Trivia: Each cast member was required to read the Austen book their character was reading in the movie!

Grigg Harris: What about me? Am I your friend? Or am I just some widget to help you make Sylvia feel better about herself? Why did you invite me to be part of your book club? What went through your mind the first time you saw me? "There's a man who is dying to read every book Jane Austen ever wrote." Is that what you thought?Jocelyn: No.Grigg Harris: But I thought, "What a beautiful woman. I hope she looks over at me." I thought if I read your favorite books that you would read mine. But, no, no, no, no... You just want to be obeyed. That's why you have dogs.

In California's Central Valley, five women and one man join together to discuss Jane Austen's novels. Over the six months they meet, marriages are tested, affairs begin, unsuitable arrangements become suitable, and love happens.

My Review:

I really enjoyed this book. I loved learning about the characters and all their foibles. None of them are perfect and it shows. Fowler really delves into their backgrounds and thus we see a bit of why they are the way they are today. The movie had a hard time showing this since they could only fit so much into a two hour movie. So now reading the book I know a bit more about why they do the things they do.

I also loved the way all these different people can come together over Austen and liken her novels unto their own lives. We also see how Austen can subtly influence the lives of those who read her. I just loved the way the characters interacted with each other. Lots of times they didn't even like each other, but eventually they see the beauty in each other and love grows.

It's a wonderful read for any Austen fan and just a great read in general!

A fun quote:

"There was something appealing in thinking of a character with a secret life that her author knew nothing about. Slipping off while the author's back was turned, to find love in her own way. Showing up just in time to deliver the next bit of dialogue with an innocent face."

Monday, September 21, 2009

St. George was so fun and a much needed vacation! We left last Thursday and came back Sunday. Our wonderful friends Ruth and Cale and their son Ocean live down there so we spent a couple of days with them as well.

We enjoyed some fun at Pirate Island in Orem on our way down and in St. George on our way back!

Pirate Island St. George

Friday Archie humored me and let me head out used book shopping! They had a couple of quaint used book stores in the area. I got the Kite Runner, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion, Dracula, The Hunger Games, and Catcher in the Rye, along with a few others! It was a very exciting find!

We also hit the Dinosaur Track museum!

Then we headed over to Ruth and Cale's and went to dinner at Samurai where they cooked our food at our table! It was so fun! They even made an onion volcano of smoke! Boog got a bit scared, but was OK in the end. Then we went back to their place for some games and dessert.

Saturday we went swimming in the morning and we were the only ones there! Boog was a bit scared at first since the pool was so big, but he ended up enjoying the hot tub for a few minutes anyway! Then we headed up to the Silver Reef ghost town. Lots of fascinating facts and ruins.

He's our little Boo!

All tuckered out

some antique items

Silver Reef ruins

Later that night we met at Ruth and Cale's for some curry and then headed out to the play Aida at the Tuacahn outdoor amphitheater. We almost got rained out with two twenty minute stalls, but other than some lightning, high winds, and rain the show went on! Kudos to the actors for sticking it out. Aida was a great play, I highly recommend it.

Sunday we walked around the St. George Temple's grounds and then hit Cove Fort on the way home.

Some pretty flowers

Gabe on Daddy's shoulders

Pretty Leaves!

Stitch and Boog

And to top it off we had an excellent continental breakfast where I had Belgian waffles with real whip cream every morning!

It's good to be home again since Boog was in our room the whole time and sleep was an issue, but everyone is recovering from our vacation and are glad for the time to spend as a family!

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Mother Teresa posted this quote by Kent Keith on the wall of her orphanage in Calcutta. Words to live by:

People are often unreasonable,illogical, and self-centered;Forgive them anyway.If you are kind, People may accuse you ofselfish, ulterior motives;Be kind anyway.If you are successful, you will win somefalse friends and some true enemies;Succeed anyway.If you are honest and frank,people may cheat you;Be honest and frank anyway.If you find serenity and happiness,they may be jealous;Be happy anyway.The good you do today,people will often forget tomorrow;Do good anyway.Give the world the best you have,and it may never be enough;Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.You see, in the final analysis,it is between you and God;It was never between you and them anyway.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Friday marked the 8th anniversary of 9/11. I thought I would reflect on that horrible day, where I was, how I felt, its impact on my life.

I had just turned 21 and was a-waiting my entrance into the Missionary Training Center in Provo, UT to begin my mission for the LDS Church. I had only one week left and was spending my days packing, shopping, etc to prepare. I got up early that morning and turned on the Today Show. On the screen were images of the Twin Towers burning. What happened? What's going on? I couldn't believe it. I ran upstairs and got my parents out of bed. We all turned to the TV and just stared, we were so dumbfounded. All those lives lost, people missing, in danger. I just bawled. I was too young to be apart of any wars, except for the Gulf War, but I was seven and it never really hit home for me; 9/11 did. My country was attacked, my fellow citizens were dead and dying. My parents and I got down on our knees and prayed. Yes, tragedy does bring one closer to God or it can bring one down to the bitter depths. I chose faith.

Life is so short, I realized. I also came to vivid realization of war, at least in my own sphere of reality. My desire was to be more tolerant, more forgiving, more charitable, and to live my life better in general. We're all humans, we're all brothers and sisters in spirit. I know I don't live life like this all the time, but it's something I try to do each day. I hope we can remember the lives lost, the families torn apart, and the lessons learned from this tragic act of terrorism.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Nothing too exciting around here...OK, yes, things were tough these last couple of weeks. Archie headed off for 12 days up to Boise for work and left me to fend for myself! I also hosted my friend for a week and a half.

I also attended a heart-wrenching funeral for little Lucas Nelson who passed away at the innocent age of only 8 months after fighting cancer for three months. I now hold my son a little closer and have a more grateful and forgiving heart. They are an amazing family and am so grateful to be apart of their lives and our prayers go out to them.

Archie is now home, my friend has moved on, and life continues to whirl and spin us around. I am so grateful for my wonderful husband who supports me in all that I do and loves our beautiful son, Gabe.

Since Gabe is sooo cute I'm sharing more photos and short videos of him!

Boog feeding himself some carrots!

More Carrots, yum!

Prunes, glorious prunes!

Frodo and Wolfy sniffing Sarah's feet!

I went out to water my plant and discovered this spider had made its home here between the plant and our barbecuer! Sarah had to capture it and set it free for me so I could actually water the plant! Spiders freak me out!

One Line Review: He catalogs his own books, hangs out with Lord Byron, and sleeps with prostitutes and serving girls.

I like the idea of a diary from Darcy's perspective, but though it was more detailed than The Confession of Fitzwilliam Darcy, it portrayed my beloved Darcy as rather boring and a bit too free with the opposite sex than I would ever imagine, and the friendship between him and Lord Byron was a bit too much. I don't think they would have ever gotten along; it seemed forced.

And from this Darcy I can't understand why Lizzy would have ever fallen for him! Oh, well. I still have Pamela Aidan's novels on Darcy's perspective to keep my company and I have yet to read Amanda Grange's Mr. Darcy's Diary. So hopefully there are others out there worthy of my Mr. Darcy!

Saturday, September 5, 2009

I've been sorting through my old journal entries from when I was eight and nine years old; they're pretty hilarious. So I thought I'd share some thoughts with you...

Tues. May 2, 1989

My bro. played Friday the 13th. It was real fun.

Really? How is playing a psycho killer real fun?

Date unknown

Dear Diary,

This Evening was wierd, me and Janali and Tiffany had a water fight. Then my dad and my mom came home. So I told Jan that I had to go home, so I went home. And I had Two oreo coockies. Then it was time for dinner and I ate outside

The End Heather

Not quite sure what was so weird about this day...

July 5, 1988

Dear Diary, Today was fun. I got in a fight with Mary.

Yup, fights are always soooo fun!

October 7, 1988

Dear Diary, Well I don't like Tiffany and Nikki. Drews a geak. My mom keeps hiding Cinderella. Me and Candace found a cat. It climbed up a tree. It was scared to come down. Travis had to get the cat down. Its name is Cutey emarie tighty Frisky. I wish I could clean my room. Cheryl dosn't get along very well. She fights a lot. I wish I could ride a bike.

See Yea!

I love what I named that cat...that'll be my next cat's name! And I love how I wish to clean my room! Huh?

October 8, 1988

I watched Freddy Crouger. He's a buthed. But I don't believe in him.

As I kept telling myself that all night while wide awake and freaking out...

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

This movie was smartly written and greatly acted. Olivia Williams makes a great Jane Austen as well as Greta Scacchi as her sister Cassandra. These were definitely the positives.

They decided to focus on the what-ifs of Austen's life. We only know of one marriage proposal that she received from Biggs-Withers. But this movie throws in a few more from some eligible gentleman. They portray Austen as turning them down in order to be independent and focus on her work. It's an interesting concept, but I don't buy it. I really don't think she found anyone she wanted to marry. I think she would have married had she had an excellent man to marry. So while the film itself is well done, I just can't agree with the concept. I just don't believe Miss Austen regretted...